Sarawakian artist questions Indonesian ikat motifs on Kuching airport backdrop

The backdrop with traditional motif, hornbill and KCH (Kuching) word displayed at Kuching International Airport. Photo: Gerald Goh

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Oct 1: A backdrop at Kuching International Airport (KIA) featuring what renowned local artist Gerald Goh says appears to be predominantly Indonesian ikat motifs has sparked questions over how Sarawak’s cultural identity is being presented to visitors.

Goh said the backdrop appeared to feature “98 per cent” Indonesian ikat motifs, with only a small element resembling Sarawak’s traditional Pua Kumbu weaving tucked into a corner.

He questioned why a key visual feature at Sarawak’s international gateway would draw so heavily on Indonesian weaving imagery when the State has its own distinctive traditional designs and cultural heritage.

“For years, we seem to have been fighting the wrong Hornbills and the wrong interpretation of our Sarawak traditional weaving. When will we get it right?” he said in a post shared on his social media on Monday (28).

Gerald Goh

Goh said there should be no compromise when it came to representing iconic cultural elements, particularly at Kuching International Airport, which is often the first and last impression visitors have of Sarawak.

“If the design looks more like an airport in Kalimantan than Sarawak, we are sending the wrong cultural message to tourists,” he said.

He said the issue was particularly important because cultural uniqueness is one of the core pillars of Sarawak’s tourism appeal and competitiveness in the region.

“This is not about rejecting Indonesian culture. It is about getting our own identity right,” he said.

Goh said while Sarawak and Indonesian weaving traditions might share historical origins and cultural connections, Sarawak’s traditional art forms had evolved into expressions that were distinctly its own.

“I mean, why scan the design on an Indonesian weaving and use it to promote Sarawak?.

“We may have the same origins, but Sarawak evolved into something distinctively Sarawak, so why not feature that authenticity?,” he questioned.

He urged Malaysia Airports, the relevant authorities and agencies involved in the design and presentation of Kuching International Airport to review the backdrop and consider whether it accurately reflects Sarawak’s cultural identity.

Goh said the airport should present a visual identity that visitors could immediately associate with Sarawak while giving the State’s cultural heritage the recognition and representation it deserves.

“Our airport should look unmistakably Sarawakian — and our cultural heritage deserves to be represented accurately and proudly,” he said. — DayakDaily